Mittal urges Centre to form team on cancer causes

Punjab health and family welfare minister Madan Mohan Mittal has urged the Centre to constitute a team of experts for ascertaining the causes of cancer in the country.

Talking to mediapersons here on Saturday, Mittal said, "The incidence of cancer is increasing in India. I have requested the union health minister to constitute the team so that we are able to control the dreaded disease."

Mittal said the state government had got a survey conducted and it had proved to be a useful exercise to determine the number of cancer cases in the state.

He said the government was providing Rs 1.5 lakh for the treatment of each cancer patient in Punjab.

He added that the process for the recruitment of 350 doctors had been started by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), adding that the exercise would go a long way in removing the shortage of doctors in government hospitals.

He claimed that health services had improved in the state due to the Punjab government's efforts and people's faith in government hospitals for treatment had increased.